Electric switch



Nov. 25, 1930. H. E. CAMPBELL ET AL :1,782,916

ELECTRIC .SWITCH Original F'iled Septv 8, 1927 I N VEN TOR.

. ATTORNEYS.

Patented Nov. 25, '1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HARRY E. CAMPBELL AND EARL F. MEKELBURG, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, AS

SIGNORS, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T0 CUTLER-HAMMER, INC., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE Original application illerl September 8, 1927, Serial No. 218,267. Divided and thisapplication filed.

ELECTRIC SWITCH January 21, 1929. Serial No. 333,825. I

This invention relates to improvements in electric switches and is a divisional application of application Serial Number 218,267, iled September 8, 19,27. A

The invention relates more particularly although not solely to switches of the motor starting type.

It is one of the objects ot the present invention to provide an electric switch which is of compact form sidewise to permit a number of the switches to be closely mounted together in a receptacle or casing, and also permitting the independent removal of said switches for repairs or replacement without requiring the removal of adjacent switches.

A further object of the invention is to provide an electric switch member having a yielding engagement with a fixed contact member in which the contact portion of the switch member may be easily removed for replacement.

A further object of the invention is to provide an electric switch in which the movable contact member will have a sliding engagement with the fixed contact in swinging into engagement with said fixed contact.

A further object of the invention is to provide an electric switch having a novel means for yieldingly holding the contact portion in position and which means may be easily disengaged to 'permit the removal of the contact or the yielding means.

A further object of the invention is to provide an electric switch Jformed almost cntirely of stamped or commercial metal, and which is of very simple construction, is strong and durable and is well adapted to Jform a good electrical contact with its cooperative contact member.

Vith the above and other objects in view, the invention consists of the improved electric switch, and its partsand combinations as set forth in the claims, and all equivalents thereof.

In the accompanying drawing in which the same reference characters indicate the same parts in all of the views:

Fig. 1 is a sectional view of a motor starting device provided with the improved electric switch;

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view thereof taken on line 2-2 lo Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a sectional detail view of the switch taken on line 3-3'of F ig. 1.

As the invention is particularly applicable to motor controllers the electric switch 1s shown as forming part thereof, but it is to be understood that the switch may be .used for other types of switches.

Now referring to the drawing, the reference numeral 5 indicates a portion of a switch box which is provided with transverse pairs of insulated rods 6 and 7, 8 and 9. Clamping members 10 and 11, having curved portions to iit the rods 8 and 9, are positioned on opposite sides of said rods and clamped thereto by a screw 12. The clamping member 11' at one end is provided with ya terminal screw 11 for connection of an electric circuit wire thereto. member 11 has connected thereto by means oi' a screw 12 a fixed contact 13 of angular formation which extends outwardly. Movable contact clamping arm members 14 and 15 also having curved portions and 7 are mounted onthe opposite sides of said rods and are clamped thereto by a screw 16. The clamping arm member 15 is of angular form and its outer or upper end portion ,is formed with opposite ed e recesses or slots 17 to receive the inner ho ding flanges 18 of a rectangular retainer member 19. Said member 19 is formed from a fiat piece of metal of rectangular form and is provided with an opening 2O of similar form with the exception that the opening at one end portion is of less width than the remaining part to form the holding ianges 18 before mentioned. The space 20 between the inner edges of the The inner end of the clamping to'it the rods 6 75 flanges is slightly larger than the width of the clamping arm member 15 between the recessed portions 17 thereof while the disengaging space between the inner transverse edges of the other portion of the retainer member 19 is slightly greater than the transverse 95 tion of the fixed Contact 13. A flexible circuit wire 23 connected at one end to the movable contact 21 between the edge recesses 22 by a round headed screw. 24,'is connected at its opposite end to a terminal screw post 25. Circuit wires 26 connected to said post extend as desired tocomplete the circuit. Said post is clamped to insulated rods 27 by a 'screw 28` and a clamping member 29. The round screw head 24' alsoI serves as a means for holding one end of a contact springv30 in position, while the other endof saidspring is maintamed in position by an inwardly extending lug 3l forming part of the retainer 19. ALsv thus positioned the spring holds the movablecontactmember-21 yieldingly in position against one side portion of the movable clamping arm` member 15 as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1 and permits said contact member 21 to yield when slidingly engaging the fixed contact member 13.

To permit turning the movable contact 21 carried by member 1 5 to on or ofll position the insulated rod 7 is fulcrumed in theswitch box and carries arms 32 (only one being sliown) in which the insulated rod 6 is mounted and is moved thereby. A lever arm 33 swings the movable contact member to its on position and a coiled spring 34 normally holds the said movable contact member to its off position as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1. Insulating plates 35 may be placed between the switches if desired. In use, if it isdesired to remove the movable Contact 21 or to replace the spring 30, it is only necessary to push inwardly on the outer end of the retainer 19 to disengage' the retainer flanges 18 from the recessed portions of the clamping arm member 15 and the movable Contact member 21 and the retainer member 19 can then be slipped off the ends of said members 15 and,21 and all parts including the spring will become disengaged from each other. The screw 24 can then be removed to replace the movable contact 2l or other parts as desired.

From the foregoing description it will be vseen that the electric switches extend approximately in straight planes land may bel placed relatively close together in parallel relation and that any partsof one switch may be replaced without disturbing the adjacent switches. It will also be seen that the electric switch is of simple construction, is strong and durable and is well adapted for the purpose described.

What we claim as our invention is:

1. An electric switch, comprising a fixed Contact member, a movable arm having opposite edge recesses, a retainer member having a central opening through which the movable arm extends and the. recessed portions thereof are entered by portions of the retainer member, a movable contact member extending through the retainer member and having recessed edge portions which are entered by portions of the retainer member, and a yielding means extending into the opening of the retainer member and engaging and holding th'` movable contact member in postion on the movable arm and also permitting a yielding movement of the movable contact member when said member engages the fixed contact member.

2. An electric switch, comprisin a fixed contact memberav retainer member aving a central opening and opposite-inwardly eX- tending anges, a movable arm extending through the retainer member and having opposite edge recesses which 'are entered by the anges to removably connect the parts together, a movable Contact memberextending through the' retainer member and having recessed edge, portions which are removably engaged by the ianges, and a spring extending into the opening of the retainer member and engaging and holding the movable contact member in position on the movable arm andalso permitting a yieldino' movement of the movable -contact member ber engages the fixed contact member. l

3. An electric switch, comprising a fixed contact member, a retainer member having a central opening and opposite inwardly extending holding ianges for forming a holding portion and a disengaging portion, a movable contact member extending through the retainer opening and having recessed edge portions which are removably engaged by the holding flanges, and a coiled spring extending into the retainer member opening andengaging and holding the movable member in position on the movable arm and the retainer member in arm and Contact member holding position, said spring permitting the movable contact member to yield when engaging the fixed contact member.

4. An electric switch, comprising a fixed contact member, a retainer member having a central opening and opposite inwardly-extending holding flanges for forming a holding portion and a disengaging portion, a movable arm extending through the central opening and having edge recesses engaged by the flanges, a movable contact member extending through the retainer opening above the arm and having recessed edge portions wrhen said memwhich are removably engaged by the holding flanges, said retainer member also having an inwardly extending lug, a flexible circuit wire, a headed member securing the circuit wire to the contract member between portions of the retainer member, a coiled spring posi.- tioned within the retainer opening and engaging the retainer lu and the headed member for removably holing the retainer member and the movable contact member in position on thel movable arm, said spring permitting the movable contact member to yield when engaging the fixed contact member, and means for moving the movable contact into engagement with the Xed contact.

5. A switch comprising a fixed contact member, a movable arm havingslots in opposite side portions thereof, a retaining member having a central opening and embracing said movable arm and slidably positioned Within said slots, a movable contact member positioned Within the opening of saidretaining member, and a yielding means between said retaining member and said movable Contact member for holding the latter in position, said yielding means also permitting a yielding engagement of the lmovable contact member with the fixed contact member Whensaid movable arm is operated.

6. 'A switch comprising a ixed contact member, a movable arm having slots in opposite side portions thereof, a rectangular retaining member having a central opening embracing said movable arm and slidably positioned Within said slots at right angles to the movable arm, a movable contact member positioned vv'ithin the opening of the retaining member, and a coiled spring positioned Within the opening of the retaining member and engaging said movable contact member to hold the latter in position, said spring also permitting a yielding engage ment of the movable Contact member with the ixed contact member when said movable arm is operated.

l 7 A switch comprising a fixedcontact member, a movable arm, a rectangular retaining member having a central opening through which the movable arm extends in angular relation, a movable contact member slidably positioned Within the opening of the retaining member in angular relation thereto and having its inner end engaging the movable. arm, means maintaining the contact member, the rectangular member and the removable arm movably and removably rconnected together, and a coiled spring posi- 'tioned within the opening of the retaining member and engaging said movable contact g member to hold the latter in position, said spring also permitting a yielding engagement of the movable contact member with the fixed contact member when said movable arm is operated.

f tures.

In` testimony whereof, We aiix our signal 

